Inside the Global Data Centre Investment Market
Data centres are essential digital infrastructure and one of the asset class’s most sought-after investment sectors. They are at the heart of the hyperscalers’ massive AI infrastructure build out and frequently grab headlines for their insatiable power and water consumption, environmental footprint, and community impact. Power is, in fact, the number one bottleneck data centre developers face nowadays.
Hyperscale, co-location and edge data centres
Data centres’ ever-closer association with the hyperscalers’ AI needs often obscures the depth of the sector, which also underpins cloud computing for the likes of Amazon, Microsoft and Google. And while AI data centres are turning into gigantic campuses, often consuming as much energy as a large city, the sector comprises everything from multi-tenant co-location facilities to single-organisation enterprise data centres, to edge facilities focused on reducing latency, to name just a few data centre types.
DATA CENTRE INSIGHTS
Nearshoring remains priority for US government as challenges emerge for data centres
Digital infrastructure now dominates North American fundraising, but growing public opposition and a wave of moratoriums threaten to slow the build-out.
CIM Group on the power of platforms in the mid-market
Steering clear of mega-fund competition requires a specialised operational playbook, local stakeholder engagement and the capacity to build regional platforms from the ground up, says CIM Group’s Jennifer Gandin.
Hull Street Energy: Legacy power assets get an encore
As power demand surges, existing power infrastructure has a critical role to play in meeting growing electricity needs reliably and affordably, says Hull Street Energy’s Sarah Wright.
Quinbrook: Decarbonisation shift favours asset creators
As the energy transition adopts a broader, power-first approach, specialist platforms are increasingly well-positioned to capture the opportunity, says Quinbrook’s Brian Restall.
Are data centres becoming too hot to handle?
With power constraints and political backlash curtailing growth, is it time for investors to get out of the market?
IFM Investors on the new infrastructure supercycle
Public-private partnerships, rising institutional capital and AI-driven demand are creating a new era for North American infrastructure investment, argue IFM Investors’ Tom Osborne and Andrea Mody.
Canada enjoys home advantage in AI infrastructure race
Boasting enviable low-carbon energy and impressive cross-border connectivity, the US’s northern neighbour has a clear head start in the AI race – if it can overcome multi-year interconnection queues.
Fengate Asset Management on the power and the glory of energy transition
The US energy system faces a supply-demand imbalance over the next decade, and that, says Fengate Asset Management’s Greg Calhoun, brings tremendous opportunity for energy transition investors.
NOVA Infrastructure on the enduring need for infrastructure renewal
The mid-market opportunity set extends well beyond data centres to a wide spectrum of legacy and niche infrastructure, say NOVA Infrastructure’s Chris Beall and Allison Kingsley.
Meridiam on the future of public-private partnerships
A new generation of North American public-private partnerships will focus not just on financing, but on bridging a critical capacity gap in the delivery of new infrastructure, says Meridiam’s Omri Gainsburg.
Infrastructure Investor’s latest Digital report finds AI generating a wealth of opportunities.
Accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence is revolutionising digital infrastructure, from data centres to fibre to towercos. While AI itself is not new, many of its applications are, and demand for data centres is rocketing as providers look to support those applications. Thankfully, while AI is causing this increased demand, it may also be helpful in managing it, making businesses and assets more efficient. AI’s rapid development really does herald a new era. The future is here.
The Pipeline: Samsung’s Helix commitment, Denham’s infra debt hire, AIP’s Swedish wind deals
In today's edition, Samsung invests $1 billion in KKR's Helix; Denham Capital hires Santander's Prieto; and AIP buys two Swedish wind farms. Welcome to The Pipeline, the start-of-the-week briefing for our valued subscribers only.
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